The Chicago Fire Department today announced its new Health and Fitness Program designed to encourage firefighters and paramedics to live healthier, more fit lifestyles. This program will help increase health awareness in the department since the most common single cause of on-duty deaths, among fire fighters, is heart attack.

Commissioner Cortez Trotter launched the CFD Health and Fitness Program at a press conference at Engine 22, 605 W. Armitage. “We must work together as a department to maintain a level of health and fitness that will further improve our ability to serve the people of Chicago. Equally important, is the health and lives of our employees.

To fully support workouts at all firehouses, the Commissioner stated he will eliminate any non-essential time restrictions on working out. This will ensure that every member has the opportunity to work out anytime they have a free moment.

The Health and Fitness Program is made up of four components: Fitness, Nutrition, Support System and Partnerships. A department-wide awareness campaign consists of:

• A 20-minute fitness video created by the department for all firehouses;
• Nutritional information that will go to all firehouse kitchens;
• Nutritional cooking classes for firehouse cooks;
• Physical evaluations by department physician;
• A new volunteer “wellness committee” charged with motivating members to join the “C.F.D. Team” at health and fitness events and promote events on the department web page and newsletter;
• A poster campaign made up of department members who have a serious commitment to health and fitness;
• Partnership with Yourself!Fitness new innovative fitness program; and
• Reduced discount memberships at health clubs throughout the city.
  

The department commissioned a fitness expert to put together a 20-minute workout routine that was turned into the video.

In implementing a nutrition awareness program that includes cooking classes, the CFD partnered with the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Wellness Institute.

“What we eat affects everything from our mood and energy levels to chronic diseases,” said Dawn Jackson, of the Northwest Memorial Wellness Institute. “Healthy eating and good nutrition can be like MAGIC… preventing and managing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and some cancers.”

“We know the issue of health and fitness extends beyond firehouse kitchens and firehouse walls. It extends beyond fire and medical emergency runs,” said Trotter when announcing the partnerships working to support CFD’s health and fitness initiative.

The Chicago Fire Department is also partnering with Yourself!Fitness, a new technological and fully interactive fitness program that will challenge 30 members of the Fire Department to burn calories as part of a health and fitness challenge.

“Helping people gain control over their health and fitness through the creation of innovative programs like Yourself!Fitness is at the core of why we created the program,” said Ted Spooner CEO of Respond Design. “We are thrilled -- and consider it a tremendous honor… to help firefighters and paramedics make a contribution to their own health and fitness through the use of our program.”

Bally’s Health Club is providing the Fire Department several pieces of equipment that will be delivered to various firehouses throughout the city.

Bally’s and X-Sport Fitness have also provided discount membership incentives to all CFD members.

The Chicago Fire Department Health and Fitness program will officially begin on Dec. 1, 2004. This will give the department an opportunity to distribute materials to all 99 firehouses across the city.